Enemies

Animals,[1] also referred to simply as Friends,[2]Animal Friends or critters,[3] are a group that appears in the Sonic the Hedgehog series. It refers to the collection of various species of small, yet intelligent, non-anthropomorphic animals. They are also known for being the friends of Sonic the Hedgehog and his allies.

Residing in their own wildlife communities in many places both near and far, the Animals make up a proportion of the indigenous fauna on Sonic's world. They are also often the targets of Dr. Eggman who seeks to use them as organic power sources for his Badniks.[4]

In the Sonic the Hedgehog games, Animals are generally found inside Badniks or Capsules to be freed after defeating enemies or opening Capsules. Other times, they simply make small cameos.

Game appearances

Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)

Mega Drive

In Sonic the Hedgehog, the Animals made their debut as minor characters. In this game, the Animals of South Island got captured by Dr. Robotnik, who used them to power his first generation of Badniks - all as a part of a plot to collect the Chaos Emeralds. Upon finding the Animals in trouble, Sonic the Hedgehog set out to rescue them by stopping Robotnik.[8][9] Also, during the ending cinematic that is shown after completing the game, several Animals will gather in Green Hill Zone where they can be seen dancing around, celebrating Sonic's victory.

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. There are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Master System/Game Gear

In Sonic the Hedgehog, the Animals appear during gameplay. The player can in this game open the metal cages that occasionally appear at the end of the third Acts of Zones in order to release a swarm of Animals from them. Like in its 16-bit counterpart, there are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Mega Drive

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Animals played a minor role in the game's narrative. Five new Animals were also introduced. This time around, Dr. Robotnik went about capturing the Animals of West Side Island and used them as power sources for new Badnik workers which Robotnik needed to finish the Death Egg.[9] A group of Animals also appear during the ending cinematic where they can be seen watching the (supposed) destruction of the Death Egg from West Side Island. In Sonic's ending a group of Flickies fly behind the Tornado, in Tails' ending a group of Cuckies fly behind the Tornado, and in Super Sonic's ending a group of Lockies fly behind the Tornado.

Like in Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit), the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules in gameplay. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Like in Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit), there are also always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Picky and Cucky's graphics are loaded in Death Egg Zone. However, since Death Egg Zone contains no Badniks or Capsules, they do not appear. Because of this, Picky goes entirely unused, despite having an official illustration for the game.

In 3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Nintendo 3DS remake of Sonic the Hedgehog 2, all twelve animals (including Picky) appear in the new Credits sequence for the port, which can be selected from the main menu. In this sequence the type of Badniks the Animals are found within often differs from the main game.

Master System/Game Gear

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, the Animals are mentioned in the narrative. In this game, the Animals of South Island got captured by Dr. Robotnik when the doctor enacted another plan for world domination. After learning of the kidnapping of the Animals (and Tails), Sonic set out to rescue them.[10]

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by opening Prison Eggs. Like in the previous title, there are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic the Hedgehog CD

In Sonic the Hedgehog CD, Animals appear on Little Planet. In gameplay, there are Metal Sonic Projectors in the Past of each Zone in the game that displays Metal Sonic harassing the Animals. Destroying this projector will make the Animals roam the Zone the projector was destroyed in. Animals will also roam the Good Future of the zones regardless of the Metal Sonic Projector being destroyed or not.

Like in previous games, there are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

In the 16-bit version of the game, Flickies, Cuckies, Lockies and an unnamed red bird all appear in each of the four main levels where they pop out of destroyed Badniks. Exclusive to The Machine, the player can also free the aforementioned Animals from the animal prisons and the Veg-O-Machine. In addition, a Flicky and a Wocky also appear in the 16-bit game's first and third Bonus Stage. These Animals are imprisoned in either a purple and grey canisters in the first Bonus Round or a regular Capsule in the third Bonus Round. The player's objective in these Rounds is to break these containers and free the Animals inside.

In the 8-bit version of the game, only the Flickies and Cuckies appear. These two Animals, like in the 16-bit version, appear in each of the four main levels where they pop out of destroyed Badniks. Exclusive to The Machine, the player can also free the aforementioned Animals from the animal prisons.

Like in previous Sega Mega Drive games, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules in gameplay. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Like in previous games, there are also always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic & Knuckles

In Sonic & Knuckles, the Animals reprised their roles from Sonic the Hedgehog 3. During the opening of Knuckles' storyline in particular, one can see Animals playing around next to Knuckles until a Eggrobo drops a bomb in their clearing. Also, during the good ending for Sonic and Tails in the game, there will be unnamed seagull-like Animals that fly next to Sonic and Tails as they depart Angel Island.

Like before, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules in gameplay. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Like in previous games, there are also always two types Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic 3D Blast

In Sonic 3D Blast, a mysterious and more varied breed of Flicky Animals found around Flicky Island is introduced. These Flickies, which originate from another dimension, are said to be the key to finding the Chaos Emeralds. After Dr. Robotnik learned of these creatures, he began transforming them into Badniks so they could search for the Chaos Emeralds for him.[14] When Sonic arrived on the island, the native Flickies teamed up with him to stop Robotnik.

In this game, there are four breeds of Flickies. The player's objective is to locate all five Flickies in an area and deposit them in a Giant Ring. Flickies can be released by destroying Badniks or pods, though they will wander around until Sonic (the playable character) touches them. They will then follow Sonic like ducklings, allowing the player to bring them to a Giant Ring. Liberated Flickies trail behind Sonic in a straight row: if the line touches an enemy or obstacle, the inflicted Flicky breaks away (along with any Flicky behind it) and fly around aimlessly until the player recollects them. If Sonic himself takes damage, all the collected Flickies disperse. The Flicky's breed determines how it behaves when flying loose.

If the player collects all seven Chaos Emeralds, the Flickies will take Sonic to the Final Fight after clearing the Panic Puppet Zone boss. After defeating Robotnik, the Flickies will then guide Sonic back to Flicky Island where they thank him for his help.

Sonic Jam

In Sonic Jam, various standard-looking Flickies can be seen flying around in the Sonic World. These Flickies come in four different colors; blue, green, purple and orange. The "Friends" category of the game's Character House features illustrations from Sonic the Hedgehog 2 of Pocky, Flicky, Pecky, Ricky, Picky, Rocky and Cucky. Illustrations of the other Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Animals from the same set are not included, even though some of them were featured in the "Sega TV Game Genga Gallery" (セガ TVゲーム 原画ギャラリー,Sega TV gēmu genga gyararī?) art book.

Sonic R

Sonic Adventure

In Sonic Adventure and its remake Sonic Adventure DX: Director's Cut, there are fifteen brand new Animals, which can be released from Badniks and Capsules in gameplay. In this game however, the Animals serve an addition purpose. First of all, the Animals are color coded according to their stats for five different categories. Secondly, the player can collect and bring Animals to Chao Gardens, where the player can give them to a Chao and raise said Chao's stats according to the equivalent of the Animal given to it.

Every Action Stage has five different types of Animals, regardless of the playable character. Three of these Animals match the Action Stage's theme (for example, Emerald Coast has all the swimming types, Windy Valley has all the flying types, etc.), another from some other specific stat, and finally a last one from the "random" category. When an Animal is released from its prison, it will be surrounded by a green light sphere for a short time. Also, in a Chao Garden, the Animals will have a sparkle around them that disappears after giving them to a Chao. Once an Animal loses its sparkle, the Animal itself will disappear after a while.

The Animals seen in the game, their attributes, and where they can be found are as follows:

Besides the collectible Animals in the game, a family of birds also play a role in the game's plot. Amy caught a blue bird after it fell from the sky. Soon after, ZERO gave chase to both. Later in the game, the bird showed Amy a picture of two other birds, which appeared to be members of its family. It turned out the two in the picture were entrapped in the robots E-101 Beta and E-102 Gamma, serving as their power sources. Fortunately Amy managed to reunite the three of them after E-101 and E-102 were destroyed. The red bird that inhabited Gamma later reappeared as Sonic prepared to fight Perfect Chaos.

In gameplay, Flickies and Rickies can be found in every Zone in the game (except Last Utopia Zone and Chaotic Space Zone) where they pop out of destroyed Badniks or opened Capsules. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them.

In this game, there are two new Animal categories in addition to the five existing ones, and there are always five specific Animal types in each stage. Four of these are common Animals (which fall into the Running, Flying, Power and Swimming category), which are found with nor restrictions and in the second Chao container of a stage. The fifth and final one on the other hand is always a rare or special Animal (which fall into the Ghost and Legendary category, with the exception of the Bat which is treated as common), which can be found either in hidden or difficult-to-reach locations and the stage's third Chao Container.

The number of Animals in a stage is always the same (twenty in High-Speed Action stages, fifteen in Lock-on Shooting Stages, and ten in Hunting Stages). Collecting them all will award an extra life. However, there are several stages where there are more or less Animals than there should be (one notable case is Security Hall); Cannon's Core does not have a proper tally and Green Hill has no wandering Animals at all.

The Animals seen in the game, their attributes, and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic Advance 2

In Sonic Advance 2, Flicky Animals appeared after the final boss is defeated. In the following cutscene, some Flickies broke free from a Capsule containing Vanilla and witnessed Sonic rescuing her as she fell from the sky.

Sonic Advance 3

In Sonic Advance 3, Flicky Animals appear in both the normal and true ending of the game, flying around at Altar Emerald after the Earth had been restored to its normal state.

Sonic Pinball Party

In Sonic Pinball Party, the Animals played a role in the game's Story mode. In this game, Dr. Eggman had begun capturing the Animals coming to Casinopolis so he could turn them into his robotic slaves. To save his Animal friends, Sonic entered the Egg Cup Tournament. Once Sonic completes the game's Story mode, a shot of the rescued Animals leaving Casinopolis together with Sonic's friends is shown.

In gameplay, a Flicky, a Deer and a Rabbit can be spotted in the lower left corner of the Sonic pinball table.

Sonic Rush

In Sonic Rush, the Animals reprise their role from the first main titles where they are used as batteries for Badniks. The game also introduces three new, unnamed Animals. Also, during the ending cinematic for Sonic's scenario in Sonic Rush, a Wocky, a pink Pocky and blue Flickies appear alongside Sonic's friends to celebrate Sonic's victory over Dr. Eggman Nega.

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badnik-type enemies. Each Badnik contains only one Animal. Unlike earlier games however, Sonic Rush always has three types of Animals per Zone. Aside from popping out of Badniks, some Animals also appear on a few occasions as a part of the environment. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

When the player performs an Advanced Trick, several Animals will briefly jump up from the bottom of the screen. The better the Advanced Trick, the more Animals will appear.

Mario & Sonic series

In the Mario & Sonic series, Animals like the Flickies, Peckies, Cuckies and Pickies appear in every title in the series where they are seen amongst the audience of every event along with other characters from both the Sonic and Mario franchises, cheering on the competitors.

Sonic the Hedgehog 4

Episode I

In Sonic the Hedgehog 4: Episode I, five of the original seven Animals from the original Sonic the Hedgehog reprise their roles from the first Sonic titles where they are used as batteries for Badniks. Also, during the ending cinematic that is shown after completing the game, several Animals will gather in Splash Hill Zone where they can be seen dancing around, celebrating Sonic's victory.

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Like in earlier games, there are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Episode II

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules. Each Badnik contains only one Animal while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Like in the previous title, there are always two types of Animals per Zone. The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic Jump (2012)

In Sonic Jump (2012), the Flicky, Pocky, Cucky, Picky and Pecky Animals played another role in the plot. In this game, Dr. Eggman went on another kidnapping spree of the aforementioned Animals, whom the doctor would imprison in cages and take along with him. Seeing the Animals in danger, Sonic and co. went after Eggman, and, after a long series of chases, managed to set the Animals free.

In gameplay, the player will encounter a cage with Animals after reaching the end of each Boss Act. Touching these cages will set the Animals inside free.

Sonic Lost World

In Sonic Lost World, the seven original Animals from the original Sonic the Hedgehog played a minor role in the plot. It is also shown here that they inhabit the Lost Hex. Using the Deadly Six, Eggman began hunting for Animals to make a new army of Badnik. It was during an attempt to stop Eggman from kidnapping some Animals that Sonic and Tails stumbled upon the Lost Hex, which hosted factories where mass production of Badniks involving Animals being taken from Capsules and inserted into the robots took place. Meanwhile, back on Earth, Amy and Knuckles would look after some stray Animals. Also, in the after-credits cutscene, where Eggman laid half-buried in the ground after falling from the Lost Hex, a roaming Pocky mistook Eggman's mustache for a plant and ate half of it before getting scared off by the doctor.

Like in the early Sonic games, the player can in both the Wii U and Nintendo 3DS version of the game free Animals in gameplay by destroying enemies and opening Capsules. Most enemies contain only one Animal each while Capsules contain a large amount of them. Unlike the early games however, there are always three types of Animals per Zone (except the Wii U version's Sky Road Zone 3 which only has Flickes).

In the Wii U version, there are extra mechanics tied to the Animals. Here, every Animal the player rescues gets collected; collecting enough Animals will unlock the fourth Zone in every world, thus allowing the player to progress through the game. Besides the aforementioned methods to collecting Animals, the player can also open mini-Capsules dotted around the game's Zones in order to collect Animals. The Wii U version also features the Circus minigame where the player can earn more Animals by playing the Circus's minigame, and The Legend of Zelda Zone where the player can collect Rupees and then trade them for Animals. Due to the removal of circus minigames in the PC version, the Animal requirements for unlocking Zones are lower than the Wii U version's:

Super Smash Bros. for Wii U

In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, the seven original Animals appear as background characters in the Windy Hill Zone stage. They also appear as a collectable trophy:

Name

Picture

Description

Fauna of Windy Hill

Windy Hill, a plain on the floating Lost Hex continent, is the first area in Sonic Lost World. It has giant windmills and mysterious caves and is home to a wide variety of animals...that Dr. Eggman has gone and used as a power source for his robot collection. Typical... Just destroy the robots and set those animals free.

Sonic Runners series

Sonic Runners

In Sonic Runners, the seven original Animals from the first Sonic the Hedgehog played supporting roles to the main cast in the storyline. In this game, most individual Animals are referred to by their species' name. Over the course of the game, Team Sonic comes across the Animals several times, whom they usually save from Dr. Eggman and/or his lackeys. Occasionally, the Animals will also ask the team for help solving different problems, whether it be either Eggman-related trouble or more personal issues. Sometimes though, the Animals will help Team Sonic as well in their own ways.

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks. Each Badnik contains only one Animal, which, when set free, will bounce a little further down the path before falling behind the player. If the player grabs the Animals as they pass by, the player will build up their Combo and earn 2,500 bonus points on the result screen for each Animal. Unlike earlier games however, there are always six types of Animals per stage. For some reason however, the Flickies do not appear in gameplay.

In gameplay, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks. Each Badnik contains only one Animal which, when set free, will bounce out of the player's sight. Much like in the game's predecessor, there are always seven types of Animals per stage.

Similar to the Sega Genesis titles, the player can free Animals by destroying Badniks or opening Capsules in gameplay. Also, only two types of Animals appear in most Zones; the exceptions to this being Press Garden Zone in the un-updated version of Sonic Mania (which only features Flickies), and Stardust Speedway Zone (which features different pairings of Animals between Act 1 and 2). Several kinds of Animals also appear at once when the Metal Sonic Projector is destroyed in Stardust Speedway Zone Act 2. Several Animals also appear in the intro cutscenes for Knuckles's Mania Mode and for Sonic Mania Plus' Encore Mode.

The Animals seen in the game and where they can be found are as follows:

Sonic Forces

In Sonic Forces, the seven original Animals can be found inside Capsules, together with a Rental Avatar, in blue SOS Missions. The objective of these missions is to rescue the Animals using either Sonic, Classic Sonic, the Avatar or Shadow. After the Animals and the Rental Avatar have been freed from their Capsule, the player has to complete their stage to complete the SOS Mission.

There are always three types of Animals per SOS Mission. Which Animals it will be is chosen at random.

Trivia

The trophy of animals in Super Smash Bros. for Wii U contains erroneous information. The trophy uses uncommon name Fauna of Windy Hill Zone (renamed Animals of Windy Hill Zone in PAL regions), that is never used in any games and the description does not mention animals being inhabited other places around the Sonic's world. The first appearance of the trophy is also incorrectly said to be Sonic Lost World, while animals have first appeared way before the previously mentioned game.

If the player hits a Caterkiller on any part of its body other than its head, an animal friend will not be freed.

Similarly, cartoon-looking seagulls are seen flying in good ending of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knuckles, that are later seen again, albeit more realistic, in Emerald Coast in Sonic Adventure and its reincarnation in Sonic Generations for Nintendo 3DS.

↑"Sonic's main buddies are Johnny Lightfoot, Sally Acorn, Porker Lewis, Chirps, Tux, Flicky the Blue Bird, and Joe Sushi. Each comes from a large family, and each is playful and friendly." - Description from Sonic Bible Draft II page 15.